February 20, 2007
GOLDEN GAELS AND MARAUDERS MEET FOR OUA MEN�S VOLLEYBALL TITLE
HAMILTON, Ont. – A sports rivalry is an intense competition between athletic teams or athletes. The pressure of competition is felt by players, and coaches, but is perhaps felt strongest by the fans. Many factors can lead to a rivalry developing. Simple geographic proximity as well as frequent meetings in important games can lead to rivalries. In the past two years the Queen’s Golden Gaels and McMaster Maruaders men’s volleyball teams have met 12 times, developping into one of the strongest rivalries in OUA men’s volleyball. As the two teams prepare for the best-of-three Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Men’s Volleyball Championship, beginning tonight (Tuesday February 20) at the Burridge Gym in Hamilton, thoughts of the past meetings are ingrained in the teams collective memory.
The Queen’s Golden Gaels will be looking for their second consecutive OUA Championship this season, after narrowly escaping the semi final round against the York Lions (14-6) this past weekend. The nationally ranked No. 7 Golden Gaels finished their season atop of the OUA standings with an 18-2 record. They will be hoping that their stellar play at home this year, combined with home court advantage, will give them an edge against the Marauders. Golden Gaels Head Coach, and OUA Coach of the year, Brenda Willis will hope to guide her team to their fourth OUA title since the 2000 season.
Advancing to their first OUA Championship under Head Coach Dave Preston, the Marauders will be looking to take home the banner for the first time since the 1991-92 season. McMaster finished the season in third place with a 15-5 record, two points behind second-place Ryerson Rams (16-4). The Marauders are coming into the championship on a seven game winning streak and most recently a come from behind victory to the second place Rams in the semi final. The Marauders last defeat came on January 19, 2007 at the hands of the Golden Gaels (3-2).
Queen’s will be led by their offensive strategist and OUA Player of the Year, setter, Devon Miller (Barrie, ON). The fourth year setter finished the season with 848 assists which was a dominant force in both the OUA and Canadian Interuniversity Sports (CIS), bettering his closest competitor by 112 assists in the country. Miller sat in seventh place in the OUA with 24 service aces on the season, and is the backbone of his Golden Gaels playing 73 games this season. To compliment Miller’s set up ability the Golden Gaels pack a one-two punch with third year Jeff DeMeza (Calgary, Alberta) and Luke Lichty (St.Catharines, Ontario) who finished the season in sixth and seventh place respectively in the OUA in points per game average (4.05, 4.02). DeMeza a first-team all-star finished the season with 236 kills, 21 blocks and 65 digs on the season, while Lichty chipped in for 16 blocks and 74 digs.
The Marauders will counter with Daniel Smedley (Woodbridge, Ontario) who has lead McMaster in all facets of the game this season. His dominating offensive game, combined with a tactical defense, Smedley is a force on the court. Finishing the season eleventh in the OUA in kills (179), Smedley also tallied 31 block, 78 digs and 214 points for the Marauders. Shawn Bench (St.Catharines) who earned the honours of OUA Rookie of the Year will also be a player to watch for in the championship. The six-foot-eight middle made an immediate impact on the Marauders squad. Bench sat third on his team in average points per game with 2.78, and showed a great deal of poise and accuracy for a first year player, as he finished the season second in the OUA in kill percentage (.559) with 84 kills.
In a season series which sees the McMaster Marauders and Queen’s Golden Gaels tied at two wins a piece in four evenly contested battles this 2007 OUA Men’s Volleyball Championship is set to be one for the books.
OUA Men’s Volleyball Championship Schedule
Game one- Tuesday February 20, 2007
#1 Queen’s @ #3 McMaster- 7:00 pm
Game two- Thursday February 22, 2007
#3 McMaster @ #1 Queen’s- 7:30 pm
Game three- Saturday February 24, 2007 (If necessary)
#3 McMaster @ #1 Queen’s- 7:30 pm
- OUA -
Michelle Church
Communications & Media Relations Coordinator
Ontario University Athletics
Tel: (905) 540-5156
Fax: (905) 574-2840
E-mail: michelle.church@oua.ca
Web: www.oua.ca
The Queen’s Golden Gaels will be looking for their second consecutive OUA Championship this season, after narrowly escaping the semi final round against the York Lions (14-6) this past weekend. The nationally ranked No. 7 Golden Gaels finished their season atop of the OUA standings with an 18-2 record. They will be hoping that their stellar play at home this year, combined with home court advantage, will give them an edge against the Marauders. Golden Gaels Head Coach, and OUA Coach of the year, Brenda Willis will hope to guide her team to their fourth OUA title since the 2000 season.
Advancing to their first OUA Championship under Head Coach Dave Preston, the Marauders will be looking to take home the banner for the first time since the 1991-92 season. McMaster finished the season in third place with a 15-5 record, two points behind second-place Ryerson Rams (16-4). The Marauders are coming into the championship on a seven game winning streak and most recently a come from behind victory to the second place Rams in the semi final. The Marauders last defeat came on January 19, 2007 at the hands of the Golden Gaels (3-2).
Queen’s will be led by their offensive strategist and OUA Player of the Year, setter, Devon Miller (Barrie, ON). The fourth year setter finished the season with 848 assists which was a dominant force in both the OUA and Canadian Interuniversity Sports (CIS), bettering his closest competitor by 112 assists in the country. Miller sat in seventh place in the OUA with 24 service aces on the season, and is the backbone of his Golden Gaels playing 73 games this season. To compliment Miller’s set up ability the Golden Gaels pack a one-two punch with third year Jeff DeMeza (Calgary, Alberta) and Luke Lichty (St.Catharines, Ontario) who finished the season in sixth and seventh place respectively in the OUA in points per game average (4.05, 4.02). DeMeza a first-team all-star finished the season with 236 kills, 21 blocks and 65 digs on the season, while Lichty chipped in for 16 blocks and 74 digs.
The Marauders will counter with Daniel Smedley (Woodbridge, Ontario) who has lead McMaster in all facets of the game this season. His dominating offensive game, combined with a tactical defense, Smedley is a force on the court. Finishing the season eleventh in the OUA in kills (179), Smedley also tallied 31 block, 78 digs and 214 points for the Marauders. Shawn Bench (St.Catharines) who earned the honours of OUA Rookie of the Year will also be a player to watch for in the championship. The six-foot-eight middle made an immediate impact on the Marauders squad. Bench sat third on his team in average points per game with 2.78, and showed a great deal of poise and accuracy for a first year player, as he finished the season second in the OUA in kill percentage (.559) with 84 kills.
In a season series which sees the McMaster Marauders and Queen’s Golden Gaels tied at two wins a piece in four evenly contested battles this 2007 OUA Men’s Volleyball Championship is set to be one for the books.
OUA Men’s Volleyball Championship Schedule
Game one- Tuesday February 20, 2007
#1 Queen’s @ #3 McMaster- 7:00 pm
Game two- Thursday February 22, 2007
#3 McMaster @ #1 Queen’s- 7:30 pm
Game three- Saturday February 24, 2007 (If necessary)
#3 McMaster @ #1 Queen’s- 7:30 pm
- OUA -
Michelle Church
Communications & Media Relations Coordinator
Ontario University Athletics
Tel: (905) 540-5156
Fax: (905) 574-2840
E-mail: michelle.church@oua.ca
Web: www.oua.ca
